Laundry Renovation Cost in Australia (2026): A Budget Breakdown by Scope

The laundry is the hardest-working room in the house and usually the last renovated. Yet quotes swing from a few thousand dollars to well over $20,000 — and it is rarely obvious why. If you are working out a realistic laundry renovation cost in Australia, this guide breaks down the 2026 figures by scope.

Short answer: In 2026, a laundry renovation in Australia typically costs $3,000–$8,000 for a cosmetic refresh, $8,000–$18,000 for a mid-range renovation, and $18,000–$30,000+ for a full rebuild or relocation. The biggest cost lever is plumbing position: keep the washing machine, sink and drainage where they are and the budget stays manageable; move them and the price climbs fast.

Note: all prices below are indicative 2026 Australian figures from published trade and architecture guides (sources at the end). Costs vary by location and supplier.

Laundry renovation cost in Australia: the 2026 averages

In fact, most Australian laundries are just 3 to 6 square metres, yet they pack in cabinetry, plumbing, electrical, flooring, ventilation and storage.

For example, architecture practice CO-architecture’s 2026 planning guide splits renovations into three tiers:

Similarly, other guides agree: hipages puts most laundry renovations between $5,000 and $25,000 (excluding appliances), and Sydney firms report basic upgrades from around $4,500.

Therefore, keeping the laundry where it is, a planning budget of $7,000–$15,000 covers new cabinetry, benchtop, sink, finishes and basic trade work.

Refresh vs mid-range vs full rebuild: the three budget tiers

Cosmetic refresh: $3,000–$8,000

First, a refresh works with the existing layout: repainting, a new sink and tap, a benchtop swap, updated cabinet fronts or handles, open shelving and a lighting upgrade. For instance, it suits rentals and pre-sale tidy-ups. For example, one Melbourne homeowner documented a European laundry makeover for under $1,000 using off-the-shelf Bunnings cabinetry.

Mid-range renovation: $8,000–$18,000

Second, the mid-range tier replaces most of what is there without moving the room. It includes new cabinetry, benchtop, sink, tapware, flooring, lighting and ventilation, with plumbing retained. The sweet spot for family homes includes full-height cupboards that swallow the ironing board. In addition, a continuous benchtop creates a folding zone, and front-loaders slide under the joinery.

Full rebuild or relocation: $18,000–$30,000+

Finally, once the room moves or the layout changes significantly, plumbing and drainage may need rerouting, walls opened and floors cut. A full relocation generally starts around $15,000 and can exceed $20,000 where services cross a concrete slab. This tier also covers combined laundry-mudrooms and laundries folded into butler’s pantries.

What each part of a laundry renovation costs

To begin with, line items make quotes easier to compare:

For example, cabinetry is usually the largest visible expense — modular or flat-pack at the lower end, custom joinery at the top. As a result, a laundry needs far fewer linear metres than a kitchen, so its allowance sits well below kitchen pricing.

For instance, benchtops follow the same logic: often just enough to span a sink and two appliances. Laminate is the accessible choice; engineered stone, porcelain and stainless steel move the price up. For a broader material comparison, see our kitchen benchtop materials guide.

Sink and tapware run from a basic stainless trough and mixer to inset sinks with pull-out mixers — cheapest to install near existing water and waste points.

Flooring and tiling depend on the substrate: removing old tiles or repairing it adds labour first. For example, tiles remain the default, and a tiled splashback behind the sink lifts the whole room cheaply. Our free tile calculator works out quantities so you do not over-order.

Ventilation is the forgotten line item — a basic exhaust fan is cheap, but ducting to an external wall can push costs up. However, note: appliances are not included in laundry renovation quotes; budget for the washer and dryer separately.

The plumbing position: the cost lever that matters most

If one rule decides whether your renovation costs $8,000 or $18,000, it is this: the existing plumbing layout usually influences cost more than the size of the room.

However, moving them means opening walls or floors for new water and waste lines — and drainage is the unforgiving part, since wastewater needs correct falls back to the home’s drainage system. A suspended timber floor may allow rerouting underneath; a concrete slab usually needs cutting and repair.

For instance, the published planning range for relocating a single plumbing point is $1,500–$5,000, and moving several services compounds quickly. In addition, plumber rates run roughly $80–$150 per hour nationally (higher in Sydney and Melbourne), plus $90–$150 call-out fees before materials. Finally, for a full room relocation, add $8,000–$15,000 for new drainage falls and water runs.

None of this means never moving plumbing — a bad layout will annoy you daily for years. Therefore, get the plumber’s input before the joinery is designed, not after. The same rule shapes our guides to bathroom renovation costs in Australia and kitchen renovation costs in Australia.

European laundry renovation cost in Australia

A European laundry conceals the washer and dryer behind cabinetry, often in a bathroom, hallway or kitchen cupboard. As a result, it is the space-saving answer for apartments and small homes.

At the budget end, a DIY European laundry makeover can cost under $1,000. For example, one Melbourne homeowner concealed a laundry cupboard facing the living room with off-the-shelf cabinetry, keeping every pipe where it was. In contrast, a professionally built version with custom joinery, integrated plumbing and ventilation sits within typical mid-range laundry pricing.

However, three things matter more than the price tag: ventilation (an enclosed cupboard of damp clothes needs real airflow), noise (check machine vibration against bedroom walls), and drainage access (waste and taps must stay reachable for emergencies).

Small laundry renovation cost: compact spaces

In fact, small laundries — the 2 to 4 square metre rooms and apartment nooks common across Australia — reward clever design: stacked washer and dryer, wall-hung cabinets, a sliding or cavity door, a fold-down ironing board.

But small does not mean proportionally cheap. Trades have minimum charges — expect even a compact refresh to land in the $3,000–$8,000 band once trades are involved. As a rough illustration: a mid-range $8,000–$18,000 renovation over a 4–6m² laundry works out to roughly $1,300–$3,600 per square metre for sense-checking quotes, though per-m² rates are not published as a standard for laundries. For more on per-square-metre pricing, see our guide to renovation cost per square metre in Australia.

What affects your quote

• Plumbing moves — each relocated point adds roughly $1,500–$5,000; the biggest lever.
• Floor construction — rerouting under timber floors is straightforward; cutting concrete slab is not.
• Joinery specification — flat-pack versus fully custom is the cabinetry range in a nutshell.
• Benchtop material — laminate keeps it under $1,000; stone and porcelain push towards $2,500+.
• Tiling area — a splashback strip is cheap; floor-to-ceiling tiling multiplies material and labour.
• Electrical and ventilation — new circuits, extra power points and ducted exhaust fans add electrician hours.
• Waterproofing — laundries are wet areas under the National Construction Code; see the ABCB’s waterproofing guide for compliance requirements.
• Strata rules — waterproofing, hard flooring and plumbing changes in apartments may need owners corporation approval.
• Location — for example, Sydney and Melbourne rates run higher than regional centres; remote areas add travel and freight.

Money-saving tips for your laundry makeover budget

1. Keep the plumbing where it is — the single biggest saving, potentially thousands per point.
2. Mix flat-pack cabinets with a quality benchtop — affordable carcasses plus a stone-look top.
3. Choose larger-format tiles — fewer tiles means fewer tiler hours, and large formats suit laundries.
4. Repaint instead of replacing — solid carcasses with new doors, handles and paint can hit the refresh tier for a fraction of replacement cost.
5. Supply your own fixtures — buying sink, tapware and lighting yourself avoids trade mark-ups.
6. Do the easy DIY — demolition, painting and shelving are within reach of a competent DIYer.
7. Get three itemised quotes — cabinetry, benchtop, plumbing, electrical, tiling and waterproofing listed separately, so you compare like with like.

Personal experience: our mid-range laundry redo

Our laundry was a 1990s time capsule: a freestanding concrete trough, a top-loader wedged beside it, one overhead shelf and lino curling at the edges. We set one firm rule before getting quotes: nothing moves — taps, trough waste and floor waste all stayed put, and every design decision flowed from that.

Scope: flat-pack cabinetry, laminate benchtop, stainless inset trough, basic pull-out mixer, vinyl plank flooring, fresh paint, exhaust fan ducted through the eaves. All-in: just under $11,000 — squarely mid-range. In fact, the two cheapest decisions made the biggest daily difference: a full-height cupboard for the ironing board, mop and vacuum, and a 600mm-deep folding bench.

Two lessons. First, measure your actual appliances — not brochure dimensions — before cabinetry is ordered; our dryer needed 20mm more depth than standard cabinets allowed. Second, the exhaust fan was the best $500 of the project: the old laundry smelled damp for hours after wash day; the new one clears in twenty minutes.

This is an illustrative account of a typical mid-range laundry renovation, shared to show how the published cost ranges play out in practice.

Expert insights

To start, ground decisions in published professional guidance:

• Plumbing position beats room size. CO-architecture’s 2026 laundry guide advises the existing plumbing layout usually influences cost more than room size — split the budget into what you can see (joinery, finishes) and what the room needs behind the walls (plumbing, electrical, drainage, ventilation).
• Match the laundry to the rest of the home. Trade marketplace hipages advises matching laundry material quality to your kitchen or bathroom — marble benchtops in the laundry make little sense in an otherwise modest home, while a cheap-looking laundry can drag down a renovated one.
• Allow real time on site. Sydney renovation firms report most laundry renovations take five to ten business days, depending on scope and cabinetry lead times.
• Get it in writing. Government guidance advises written quotes from a range of builders, licence checks and an agreed timeline. Apply the same to individual trades before demolition day.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to renovate a laundry in Australia?

In 2026: $3,000–$8,000 for a cosmetic refresh, $8,000–$18,000 for a mid-range renovation, and $18,000–$30,000+ for a full rebuild or relocation. As a result, keeping plumbing in place keeps you towards the lower end of your tier. Costs vary by location and supplier.

Is $10,000 enough to renovate a laundry?

For many standard laundries, yes. It sits within the typical mid-range and covers new cabinetry, benchtop, sink, tapware, flooring and trade work when plumbing stays put. Custom joinery or plumbing moves push it higher.

What is the most expensive part of a laundry renovation?

Cabinetry is usually the largest visible expense at $2,500–$7,000+. Behind the walls, plumbing is the big variable: relocating a point costs around $1,500–$5,000, and moving several can exceed the joinery cost.

Does moving the washing machine increase the renovation cost?

Yes — often substantially. Water supply and wastewater drainage must be extended with correct falls. Allow roughly $1,500–$5,000 per relocated point, more if a concrete slab must be cut.

How much does a European laundry cost in Australia?

There is no single published figure — it is a design approach, not a room renovation. A DIY cabinet makeover has been documented for under $1,000; a professionally built version with custom joinery falls within typical mid-range pricing. Ventilation, noise and drainage access matter more than the price tag.

How long does a laundry renovation take?

Most take five to ten business days on site, depending on scope and cabinetry lead times. Order cabinetry early — manufacture sits outside the on-site timeframe.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the laundry renovation cost in Australia comes down to three decisions: your tier (refresh $3,000–$8,000, mid-range $8,000–$18,000, full rebuild $18,000–$30,000+), your plumbing position, and your joinery specification. Keep services where they are and do not forget the unglamorous line items — ventilation, waterproofing and floor preparation — that make the finishes last.

Ready to plan yours? Work out tile and flooring quantities with our free tile calculator, then compare against our complete kitchen and bathroom renovation cost guides — the same logic applies to every wet area.

Costs vary by location, supplier and project complexity. Figures above are indicative 2026 ranges from the sources below — get itemised quotes for your laundry.